Marathon Running

Friday, February 14, 2014

“And that’s how we’ll do it. Moran’s boys aren’t going to know what hit ‘em. Any questions?” Al Capone swept the room, his dead eyes not inviting questions from any of the 6 Capos that sat around the table in the back of the noisy italian restaurant. Capone sat back in his chair and made a move to pick up his fork and dig into his linguini, the signal that the meeting was adjourned, when a young, newly made Capo spoke up.

“Al, um, all due respect,” Jimmy Stripes said, clearing his throat. Stripes was named for his predilection for pin stripe suits. His father, Jimmy Sr, had come up with Capone and greased Stripes ascension within the organization. “It’s just, well. It’s just that my daughter’s birthday is that day.”

The room was silent as Capone stared down the length of the table at Jimmy, hand resting on his fork. He remained silent for what felt like hours to the men seated around the table, the clinking of cutlery from the other restaurant patrons rising up to fill awkward silence. Stripes squirmed in his seat.

“And?” Capone said.

“And, well, you see, we already made all the arrangements. We even booked Happy the Clown.”“You booked Happy the Clown,” Johnny the Mouth shouted, drawing stares from a couple nearby tables. “How the fuck did you book Happy the Clown? I’ve been trying to get that fucker for the last two years.”

Stripes raised a hand up, palm out. “I swear to God, I booked him over a year ago. Before my kids last birthday. And he still only got me in back then because of a last minute cancellation. I swear, the holy mother was shining -”.

“Am I actually hearing this conversation,” Capone interjected, looking around the table incredulously.

The Mouth chuckled nervously. “Al, you don’t know how big a deal it is to book this clown. Happy the Clown is the hardest get in Chicago.”

“I don’t care if you got Fuckstick-The-Clown-That-Shits-Rainbows. We scheduled the biggest god damn hit in Chicago history and we’re going to follow through with the god damn plan.”

“Al,” Big Mouth again pleaded. “It’s Happy the Clown. His kid will shit a brick. Can’t we be a little flexible?”

Capone threw his hands up in the air and started shouting. “Fine fine. Let’s accommodate everyone. Hey Flips, you got a puppet show you can’t miss? Or what about you, Freddie? Maybe your kid has a stickball game you want to see?”

“Sir - “ Stripes tried so interrupt, but Capone continued on.

“And when exactly do you want me to reschedule this for,” he said, his hands now waving wildly above his head. The people seated at the surrounding tables made such a point of keeping their heads down their noses were nearly brushing their pasta. “The 15th? I’ve got an appointment for a haircut that day and, if you think it’s difficult to book your fucking clown, you should try getting in with Yvonne. She don’t care who I am and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let anyone else near this hair.”

“Well, what about the 14th?” Big Mouth asked.

“That’s Valentines day!” Capone exploded.

“Well, yeah, but isn’t that sort of okay?

Freddie Marciano, who has remained silent up to this point, perked up. “Hey yeah. No need to buy my girl jewelry on account of having to be working. Or my wife neither.” A general murmur of assent spread across the table as each man considered the freedom of not having to find the perfect Valentines gift.

Capone sighed, slumping back in his chair. “Fine,” he said, throwing his hand up in the air. “Fine. Saint Valentines day it is. This better end up being worth it. I recommend you be sure to take down all of Moran’s men, you hear?”

“You got it, boss,” Stripes said with a grin. “Anything you want. And thanks.”

“Hey,” Capone said, looking around the table. “You think we should tell Moran’s boys that they don’t need to bother buying gifts neither?”

The men at the table burst out in laughter. Capone folder his hands across his chest and watched on as his men smacked each other on the back, a smile playing at the corner of his lips.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Monday, February 01, 2010

http://jasonleahrun.com was available and I thought it might be fun to host my own site. And so I did. So far so good with the wordpress although I don't know how I feel about the template. I mean I think it looks good, but I don't like the back end of it. It's a place to get started though and start testing some bigger ideas I have for jasonleahrun.

Contact us at jasonleahrun@gmail.com if you come across any problems or whatevers. Hope to see you there. In fact go there and leave a comment and say hi so we don't feel so lonely out of blogger-ville.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Well I think that picture says it all. We live here, we all hate February, but in the end we put our coats on and deal with it.

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that compares to that first warm day. It's usually followed by a snow storm or sub zero temperatures but we all cherish that day. A few years ago there was a random 50 degree day smack dab in the middle of February. Jason and I went on a long walk along the lake front path as did the rest of Chicago. People were our running in shorts and no shirts and the lake front was jammed with people. The edges of the path were still covered in snow and the weather for the following week was gloomy, cold and horrible. But for that one day we had a glimpse of summer. And it makes the winter worth it.

Yesterday I bundled Lucy up good and tight and she resembled snowsuit Randy from A Christmas Story but we had fun. We went to visit Obtiva for a few minutes and then met Jason for coffee and cupcakes at Starbucks. Lucy was a traveling champ as always. A few times she almost woke up and she would get real excited, but I think it was more, "What the hell are you doing mom, don't you know it's cold out here?" and then she would go back to sleep.

In other news, I'm starting another photo project. My current one is just to post a picture every day on my photoblog. But I don't care when I take those pictures and there could be several from the same day. So I get away with going to take a bunch of pictures and then setting my camera down for a few weeks since I have so many in the bag. Ok well the camera is not really set down as it's in Lucy's face, but as far as taking pictures of things other than the baby. So I'm starting a 365 project where a new picture has to be taken every day. I hope to learn a lot and force myself to see photos where I usually wouldn't. So today is day 2. Let's see how long I make it. I'll be putting the pictures up in this smugmug gallery and also over at flickr. I suppose I could also do a Lucy 365 project too and take a picture of her every day.....I just about do that anyways....three photo projects at once? What the WHAT? Alright, fine that is started too, with photos being housed here. With all the photo work I've been doing, that new 27" iMac is calling to me. Why can't I be rich and just go out and buy it. But alas I am not and so that'll have to wait.

Should be a lazyish day today as not much going on. My Dad is coming over to get some stuff sometime this morning and then just reading and playing with Lucy. Perhaps a walk to starbucks this afternoon. Thinking if I take my small 50mm lens I could take my camera and the baby and it wouldn't be too much to carry...can I take pictures with a baby strapped to me though? Something to test I think.